The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-01-19
JOLLY YARN FROM GEORGIA.
Henry Mortimer Denuded of His
Hair bv liz Phantom Brother.

Henry Mortimer Denude0 OF HIS
Hairbv His Phantom Brother.
CLAYTON, Ga, Jan. 10-There lives
in Cherokee county, just across the
North Carolina line from here, man
who 10 looked upon as having the affiic
ton of Cain. He believes himself that
Providence has thus marked him, and in
consequence courts the night and never
appears in the light Of day.
In 1874 rich Virginia planter named
Mortimer sought the wilds Of Cherokee
county, N. G. Thitner he took his fam
lily and a retinue OF slaves. He was
averse to the advent of strangers. In
this hatred Of intrusion he was joined bv
his wife. To them was born two chill
dren, Henry and Edward.
In course of time Mr.. Mortimer died,
when the care of the children fell wholly
upon the mother. She grew more and
more q hater Of her kind. 1t is said that
during the four years of the war not
human being Outside of h. r two children
ever crossed her doorstep. The children
inherited the strange characteristics Of
their parents, and were regarded in the
neighborhood as young Ishmaelites-
1t was about eight years ago that Ed
ward lent his younger brother, Henry,
small sum of money. which the latter
was slow about repaying. One day Ed
him before the sun went down il the
money was not forthcoming. Toward
sunset, as Henry was returning home
from hunting, he saw his brother advanc
ing with an open knife.
''Have you got my money! asked
Edward.
NO." was Henry's response.
' Then die y shrieked Edward, as he
rushed forward.
~ a. toI
Edwards forehead, and he fell dead. A
terrible scene of excitement followed.
Henry refused to be arrested, and took
refuge among the wild haunts of Cher
Okee.
Vigilance finally relaxed; excuse was
made for the murder, and by degrees
Henry ventured to appear abroad again.
But the change which had come over
HIM produced a greater sensation than
the killing of Edward Mortimer. lie
said that on the night after he had killed
his brother he found it impossible to
sleep. Just as he would begin to doze
an expression Of exquisite pleasure, he
would slowly pluck. one by one, the hairs
from his beard and face.
For three months this refined torture
when the visits were stopped,
and there was not single hair left on
Henry's body. The pores of the skin
opened wider, and with every breath the
of pores would act in sympa-
thy so that on the warmest day the vic
to a room in his mothers house and per-
sistentIy refuses to let the light of the
sun shine on him. He says that he is
punished as was Cain of old.
Lovely Woman In the White House.
From the Baltimore American.
The talk to-day has been OF the bril-
liant reception last night at the White
House. 1t is conceded that never before
has there been such a display OF dia-
mouds. Mrs. Senator Stanford fairly
shone with precious stones, and it is said
her diamonds cost $500, 900. There never
was such display in the White House
except that made by Mrs. John Jacob As
tor. Mrs. Frank Leslie was another lady
whose diamonds attracted attention.
The stones she wore in her ears were the
famous diamonds about which so much
has been written. They looked the size
OF birds eggs. The entire front of her
decollette corsage was one blaze of the
plays Of diamonds. but the two spoken
of were the most magnificent.
1t seemed as IL some of the dressing.
or rather the want of it. was carried to
extremes. Talk about the Chicago min
listers protesting against the American
Opera ballet! The display of necks. arms
aud busts last night laid way over any
ballet show at any theater. Some q! the
ladies seemed to try TO see how little they
could wear and not catch cold. 1t is
justly said that, like the diamond dis
play, no such a decolletts show has been
seen in the White House before. The
Hizzv cOatumas of the girls in s.Eyanpp>
line" and Lydia Thompson's troupe
seemed to fade into insignificance when
compared to the low-back dresses worn
last night